Today, out in Carson, California, America's soccer champion will be crowned at the 2012 MLS Cup Final, with the Houston Dynamo taking on the host Los Angeles Galaxy in a rematch of last year's Final, won by LA 1-0. The match is set for a kickoff of 3:30 PM CT and can be seen live on ESPN.
My hometown Dynamo took the longer way back to the Final this year, finishing with the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference in the regular season. Back after beating Chicago in the knockout round, and then slaying top seeded Kansas City and DC, the Dynamo are definitely a threat to raise their third championship in seven years in Houston. Unlike last year's Final, Houston will have the services of all-star Brad Davis (who was injured last year), designated player Oscar Boniek Garcia (hadn't joined the team yet), and veteran Ricardo Clark (who was still in Germany) in the midfield. Those three will look to play-make and control possession for the Dynamo, which will be key for them coming out with a victory.
Meanwhile, the favorite LA Galaxy and its stars Landon Donovan, David Beckham, and Robbie Keane, their season has been up and down. After starting out the first half of the season in last place, the team has been on fire since August, and upset Supporters Shield Winner San Jose and Seattle on their way to defending their title. David Beckham, in his final MLS game, will look to provide service in midfield, but the key to LA's attack is the partnership between Robbie Keane and Landon Donovan up top. The Dynamo have to be solid defensively for 90+ minutes, and be wary of the lightning quick counterattack from that tandem, who can score a goal together in a blink of an eye.
Although the Dynamo are once again heavy underdogs, and the storyline throughout the build up to this game has been all about David Beckham in his final MLS game, give me my hometown team one more time to shock the world and raise the Cup behind a stingy defensive effort led by goalie Tally Hall, and a timely goal thanks to either Davis or Garcia in the midfield. LET'S GO DYNAMO!
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